It seems to depend on camera angle.
Take a look at this video:

https://streamable.com/j7gqb

Cavendish was engaging in risky riding when he tried to squeeze between Sagan and the barrier. Before Sagan’s elbow even moved, Cavendish‘s head was on Sagan’s hip. Then he lost his balance and his right foot starts to come out of the pedal as he begins to crash. Then Sagan’s elbow moves.

In a sprint situation like this, the rider protects his bike with his body and arms. Watch any Sagan sprint and you will see his arms out wide when he’s moving through traffic. Sagan’s elbow movement wouldn’t be unexpected with Cavendish leaning into him like that. But it does look bad from the aerial view.

https://m.

and that leaves nowhere for Cavendish to be (and there was no one on Sagan's left forcing him to move to the right). It looks like Sagan's shoulder hits Cavendish's head first. I don't think Cavendish's line was risky at all - assuming Sagan kept his line rather than squeezing Cavendish.

http://www.velonews.com/2017/07/commentary/jury-wrong-sagans-dsq_442744

It looks like Cav’s brifter could have hooked Sagan’s elbow. Who knows? Bicycle racing IS a contact sport.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/40499580

trying to squeeze through along the barricade like that.
Raw deal for PS.

Raw deal.

Mark shouldn't have taken that risk. Wonder if he'll be back next yr given all he's dealing with.

4 bike widths? 5? How much are they allowed to swerve?

The complete ban may be a harsh penalty, but I think it's clear that Sagan swerved into Cavendish, causing the crash.

I just saw one view from the front and it play twice from above. PS is a big guy and you'll notice his usual style is riding with his elbows moving out a lot. I'll find some clips and replay this a few more time. Bike widths? Don't know. Different for different riders, I suppose.

I love Mark (how can you not?) and have always pulled for him. He truly has my sympathy now.

I've now listened to many pundits who also agree, including Bob Roll's and Lance Armstrong's takes. (LA admittedly was never a sprinter.) Both of them are also quite critical with how the race is organized in respect to enough protection for the racers - making sprinters crowd too much was one of a few things mentioned.

By 0:02, Sagan is on the midline of the road, Demare is on his right - almost but not quite drawn level with him, and Cavendish is following Demare - not quite as far to the right, with his wheel perhaps 30cm to the right of the centre line.

By 0:04 (just after they've reappeared from under a tree), Demare has got just ahead of Sagan, and Cavendish is following directly behind him, less than a bike length behind. All three have moved further to the right, as have others in front of Sagan.

By 0:05 (reappearing after another tree), Demare's rear wheel is now fully clear of Sagan's front, Cavendish's front wheel is roughly level with Sagan's rear, and Sagan has a clear space in front of him - he can go straight ahead. Cavendish doesn't have any more room available to his right, but he does have enough to go straight on behind Demare.

By 0:06, Sagan is still moving right. Cavendish's front wheel is level with Sagan's frame, and all he could do to avoid Sagan is to brake violently. Demare has started moving to the left. Then the next tree obscures them, under which first contact happens.

I think it looks like Sagan seeing there's now a gap to the right of Demare, and moving towards it while ignoring the rider to his right - and bracing himself for the impact he's going to cause. He probably hadn't thought about whether Cavendish had any room to avoid him, but he was expecting contact due to his move.

Cav has made a career out of muscling his way through gaps which are not there.

Lest we forget his silver winning move in the Men's Omnium in 2016:



I was hoping he would get into it with Bouhanni, since he would have gotten more than an elbow.

Hmmm. I'm interested what MV would think about the clip and your remark.